Questions and Answers
(Section - 1)

Q. What is control solution and how do I get it?

A. Control solution is used to check that both the meter and the test strips are working together as a system, and that you are doing the test correctly. Use only the appropriate Control Solution for your meter. Control solution is available from your local pharmacy.

Q. What battery size do I need for my Glucose Meter?

A. Most meters come with batteries already installed. However, to see which type of battery your meter uses, find the battery compartment on the back of the meter and note the battery type.

Q. Can I use a lancet more than once?

A. To help avoid infection, use a new, sterile lancet every time you test. Never use a lancet that has been used by someone else. Always dispose of the used lancet in a container for sharp/biohazard objects. If you share a lancing device, each person should always use a new lancet and a new or properly disinfected cap.

Q. What are Low-Calorie Sweeteners

A. Low-calorie sweeteners provide consumers with a sweet taste without the calories or carbohydrates that come with sugar and other caloric sweeteners. Some low-calorie sweeteners, such as aspartame, are "nutritive”, but are low in calories because of their intense sweetness. For example, because aspartame is 180 times sweeter than sucrose, the amounts needed to achieve the desired sweetness are so small that aspartame is considered virtually non-caloric. Many non-nutritive sweeteners, such as saccharin, are non-caloric because they are not metabolized and pass through the body unchanged. Currently, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose are the only available low-calorie sweeteners in the United States.

*** Information about low-calorie sweeteners provided courtesy of the Calorie Control Council.

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Q. What do the claims "sugar free" and "no sugar added" mean on a food label?

A. The nutrient content claim "sugar free" on a food label means that the serving of food contains an insignificant amount of sugar (less than 0.5 g per serving).

The claim "no added sugars" or "no sugar added" is allowed if no sugar or sugar-containing ingredient (such as jam, jellies, or concentrated fruit juice) is added during processing. This claim is only to be used on foods that substitute for foods that normally contain sugars. Also, unless the food meets the criteria for a "low calorie" (i.e., 40 calories or less per serving) or "calorie reduced" (i.e., 25% reduction in calories) claim, it must say it is "not a low-calorie food" or "not a reduced-calorie" food.

Reference: Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR); Sugars - 21 CFR 101.60(c)
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/get-cfr.cgi?TITLE=21&PART=101& SECTION=60&YEAR=2001&TYPE=TEXT

For more information on claims, use the following link:
Claims That Can Be Made for Conventional Foods and Dietary Supplements

Information provided courtesy of U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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Q. Where can I report a product that doesn't work?

A. FDA learns about problems with products through a system called "MedWatch". Consumers can report any problems they have with FDA-regulated products through the MedWatch system. You can find information and instructions for reporting problems with medical devices at the MedWatch web site.

To access the MedWatch web site, use the following link:
The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program

Q. Where can I find other people's complaints about medical devices?

A. FDA collects reports of adverse events involving medical devices in the MAUDE database. The data consists of all voluntary reports since June 1993, user facility reports since 1991, distributor reports since 1993, and manufacturer reports since August 1996.

To search the MAUDE database of medical devices which may have malfunctioned or caused a death or serious injury, use the following link:

Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience Database (MAUDE)

Information provided courtesy of U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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